Chardon, Geauga County may be close to trail/RID compromise

By
Betsy Scott, The News-Herald

Friday, May 9, 2014

It appears that a deal may yet go down to move the Maple Highlands Trail extension forward.
Little has been said publicly about a compromise offer made more than two months ago on behalf of Geauga County commissioners to resolve a stalemate over an easement the city seeks for the trail project.
The proposal also would address a conflict involving an economic development tool called residential incentive districts, or RID, that were created by the city against county officials’
wishes.
A special meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., May 19 at city hall to discuss the RID ordinance and acquisition of the county­-owned Center Street land needed to build the trail as designed.
City Council met in closed session May 8 to talk about the property acquisition, but no action was taken.
Mayor Phil King said that council cannot share details of items discussed in executive session. However, any vote would have to be done publicly.
Commissioner Blake Rear said negotiations have been ongoing and that he continues to keep tabs on the issue.
“If there’s any change, we would have been informed of it,” he said, noting that the county prosecutor is handling the matter. He indicated that busy schedules may be at least partly to blame for the slow go.
Commissioners have considered suing over the RIDs, because of concern about losing tax revenue under the existing ordinance — passed in December — which calls for splitting increased property taxes from three housing developments with the county after 10 years.
The districts enable the city to defer the increased revenue to fund future infrastructure projects in those areas. The tax deferral begins 30 years from the start of each home. The existing tax revenue stream is unaffected, and the school district and countywide library system are exempt.
The trail extension is designed from Fifth Avenue to Water Street. The county offer was made following a barrage of support from biking enthusiasts and others, and a city letter stating the benefits of the project and a request for action on the easement.
The $600,000 first phase of the extension was awarded a $521,200 federal grant, through the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.
The complete project involves adding 1.33 miles of trail that eventually will link to a continuous 21-?­mile multimodal route serving the county.
The Maple Highlands Trail connects to the Greenway Corridor in Lake County, with the goal of extending to Lake Erie.